Show Notes
This week Nicola Peddie shares her insights into the wool industry, the power of sustainable innovation, and the potential for personal growth when you put your mind to it.
Born and raised on a sheep and beef farm in New Zealand, Nicola's passion for wool came from a black and coloured stud flock her mother ran. "From a young age, I used to prepare the wool with Mum and become naturally very fond of it," she says.
Nicola gained her wool-classing ticket, but found it difficult to find a run in New Zealand. So, with her usual determination, she headed to Kangaroo Island and got her Australian wool-classing ticket as well. Nicola worked to gain enough experience to get a run in North Otago and she also began instructing part-time, which Nicola says was a fantastic experience and gave her exposure to mentoring others.
"Following that, I got an opportunity and I worked for three months in the wool store. I worked hard and made a point that I wanted to get on the road and they gave me the opportunity to do that. But it was a hard road," Nicola explains. "I didn't get a client list, so I was cold calling and knocking on doors and utilising my network. I was lucky that through my family I had some contacts - and also through wool handling and wool-classing. I worked for them for a couple of years and then got an opportunity with The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM)."
Nicola's hard graft and tenacity shine through, showing that with a strong work ethic and professionalism, you can shape your career's trajectory to reach your goals. Her latest role for NZM, 'Northern Regional and Offshore Manager', involved building a strong nucleus of influential growers in Australia, focusing on ethical sourcing. She was also highly involved in developing the strong wool supply from North Island farmers.
A few months ago, Nicola left NZM to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). "I was always an ideator in the organisation, and it was something I enjoyed. However, you also need to know the mechanics, and that's the next stage of actually being able to drive change," she explains. "When I think about the future that I want after the MBA, I want to be able to support and drive transformational change in the agricultural sector and support growers and make sure that they're set up for the future, and to be able to do that effectively, I needed to round out my skill set.
Nicola's story serves as a testament to the potential of professionalism, personal development and seizing future opportunities. Whether you're an aspiring young professional in ag, or someone older seeking growth in their career, we hope Nicola's story encourages you to take that next step.
Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited, we help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best - info@nextgenagri.com.
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